Steel Framework Installation Begins for Boys & Girls Club in Palmyra
Corydon, Ind. (April 15, 2026) – The Harrison County Community Foundation (HCCF) is excited to announce the steel framework installation for the new Boys & Girls Club in Palmyra is underway. As you travel along Highway 135 in Palmyra, you may notice this exciting change, and with each new day of construction, the vision of expanding affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare options in northern Harrison County and surrounding areas comes closer to reality.
Once open, the new 20,000-square-foot Club will have the capacity to serve up to 150 children daily from kindergarten through 8th grade, offering after-school care and full-day programming during school breaks and summer. The new Club will feature activity spaces, classrooms, a gymnasium, a commercial kitchen, and staff office space, all designed to provide a safe and engaging environment for children. The four core program areas the Boys & Girls Club will focus on developing are Academic Success, Character and Leadership, Health and Wellbeing, and Life and Workforce Readiness, which will benefit local children, families, and support the long-term economic prosperity of Harrison County.
“The new Boys & Girls Club in Palmyra will open doors to opportunity, strengthen families, and uplift our community — one child at a time. For the families we serve, it will offer reliable support and peace of mind, knowing their children have a place to go after school and during the summer. This new Club will be an important resource for our community for years to come,” said Kim Grizzel, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Harrison-Crawford Counties.
In late October 2025, a Groundbreaking Ceremony officially marked the beginning of construction. Since then, Design Builder, Jeff Shireman with Shireman Construction Management, along with teams from Paul Primavera & Associates and TowerPinkster, have been working on the building’s design and construction. As the steel framework rises, excitement builds around the community, giving residents a sign of progress toward more childcare options. The project team knows that completing the facility will provide lasting benefits for the children and families it serves.
“When steel starts going up, it’s always an exciting construction milestone. There’s a major visual impact, and the project starts to feel real to the community,” said Shireman.
The idea of a Boys & Girls Club in northern Harrison County traces back to early 2024, when HCCF led a county-wide planning initiative called Vision Project 2024. After gathering input from over 50 community leaders and a public survey, childcare was determined as one of the Top 10 Priorities for the county. In response, HCCF, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Harrison-Crawford Counties, submitted a proposal to Lilly Endowment Inc. and was awarded a $4.49 million GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) VIII Implementation Grant. Additionally, HCCF’s Board of Directors committed $3 million to support constructions costs, demonstrating the Foundation’s commitment to addressing the county’s needs.
”Seeing the steel framework go up is a powerful reminder of what is possible when our community shares a vision,” said Matt Rothrock, HCCF Board Chair. “I am proud of the Foundation’s leadership and commitment to strengthening the place we call home. The Boys & Girls Club in Palmyra represents what this community can achieve together.”
While construction moves along, the opportunity to support the Boys & Girls Club in their fundraising efforts continues, ensuring the Club opens fully staffed, fully furnished, and fully ready.
The Harrison County Community Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to the construction teams, community leaders, and donors for their ongoing hard work and support of this project. We extend special appreciation to the Town of Palmyra for their support of this impactful project. HCCF is proud to lead a project that will have a lasting impact on Harrison County youth and their futures.